Funded early education and childcare for 2 year olds

Some two year olds can get up to 15 hours of funded early education and childcare every week.

Your child can either be:

  • at any Ofsted-registered private day nursery or pre-school
  • with an Ofsted-registered childminder

The funded childcare is for 38 weeks of the year (during school term time). You may be able to get childcare for more weeks if you use fewer than 15 hours per week. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.

Eligibility

You may be able to receive funded childcare if you receive either:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
  • Universal Credit and are either:
    • not working
    • have a household income of £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments

Other qualifying criteria

You may also be eligible if your child either:

  • has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
  • receives Disability Living Allowance
  • is looked after by the local authority
  • has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangement order or adoption order

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get funded childcare for your two year old.

Your household income must be no more than:

  • £34,500 for families with one child
  • £38,600 for families with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

If you are a working family and are not eligible, you may be able to get childcare support for children aged from nine months. See: Free childcare for working parents (GOV.UK).

When to apply

Children are eligible from the term after turning two years old.

To get the free childcare straightaway, you need to have already successfully applied and received a code.

The sections below tell you when you are eligible and when you should apply.

Eligible for free hours from 1 April after their second birthday (summer term).

Apply from 1 January of the year they have their second birthday, but not until they are at least one year and ten months old.

Eligible for free hours from 1 September after their second birthday (autumn term).

Apply from 1 April of the year they have their second birthday, but not until they are at least one year and ten months old.

Eligible for free hours from 1 January after their second birthday (spring term).

Apply from 1 September of the year they have their second birthday, but not until they are at least one year and ten months old.

Make an application

You can apply online.

Apply for childcare support

If you are having problems checking your eligibility and need support, please contact the team.

You need to contact the team to discuss your application.

Contact

If you have questions or queries: 

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